SPL Director Mk2

Now in its second incarnation, the Director Mk2 from SPL is a fully featured stereo preamplifier accommodating ten sources and offering sample rates up to 768kHz with 32-bit resolution and DSD4.

The Heart Of The Stereo

SPL’s second generation Director preamp and DAC features a versatile array of analogue and digital input options, including two balanced XLR, 4 unbalanced RCA, AES/EBU, USB, coaxial and optical. SPL have been mindful to cater for the widest possible variety of sources including computers, DAPs, phono preamps (such as the Phonos) and headphone amps like the Phonitor XE.

A tape monitor loop is also available for enthusiasts with older and much loved analogue tape machine components.

The Director Mk2’s outputs are fully balanced via XLR, perfect for connection to a similarly ProFi power amp such as the SPL Performer. A direct output is also on hand for easy connection to a headphone amplifier.

Fully Motorised Control

As with many of their revered professional outboard products, SPL have ensured that the Director Mk2’s volume control manipulation resides fully in the analogue domain. This enables the gain to be adjusted to the listener’s content without compromising any resolution from the conversion stage, which is so often the case in modern DAC peripherals.

The specially chosen ALPS RK27 ‘Big Blue’ volume potentiometer is fully motorised for remote control as well as a robust feel and pristine channel matching.

New Digital Architecture

Among the various improvements implemented between SPL’s Mk1 and Mk2 Director variants is the complete redesign or the digital-to-analogue conversion board. The new replacement component features a new architecture all centred around AKM’s new and highly acclaimed AK4490 'Velvet Sound’ chip, which supports PCM up to 768 kHz with 32-bit resolution, as well as DSD playback up to DSD4 or 256.

The Director Mk2’s built-in low pass filter also runs on a signature SPL 120V rail powered by the company’s proprietary VOLTAiR technology. This allows for higher headroom, wider dynamic range, and lets the full analogue portrait come to life without limitation.